Method of forming a buckle-body



F. w. LEWIS. v METHOD OF FORMING A BUCKLE BODY. APPLICATION FILEDAUG.9,1920.

1,395,124, Patented Oct. 25, I921.

@511 WWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. LEWIS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CH APIN &

HOLLISTER 00., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODEISLAND.

METHOD OF FORMING A BUCKLE-BODY.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed August 9, 1920. Serial No. 402,324.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Lewis, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofForming a Buckle-Body, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of forming a one-piece beltbuckle having longitudinally curved sides and rearwardly inturnedflanges with inturned edges and the object of this invention is toprovide simple and effective means for carrying out my improved methodwhereby the side edges of this buckle body may be first turned up andthen folded over a collapsible arbor whichis previously expanded withinthe body and after the edges have been turned thereover the arbor may becollapsed or reduced in size and then withdrawn from this body.

The nature and advantagesof the invention will be better understood whenthe following detail description is taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings:

In the drawings forming part of this" specification, like numerals ofreferenc indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein p I aFigure 1 is aperspec'tive view showing my improved buckle body infinished form.

Fig. 2 is a top View illustrating the collapsibl arbor as positioned inthe buckle body which has been swaged into finished form. V y 7 Fig. 3is an end view of the buckle body showing the same after the side edgeshave been turned up and the swaging tools in position to fold thesesideedges inwardly over the collapsible arbor which is shown in sectiontherein.

Fig. 41 shows the tools as having been brought together and the sideedges of the buckle folded over the face of the collapsible arbor.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation sectioned on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing two of the members of thecollapsible arbor from which the third member has been withdrawn.

The essential feature of my improved buckle is that the same is madecomplete of one piece o metal without the use of solder which would be acomparatively simple operation if it were not for the fact that the sideedges of the buckle were curved longitudinally and also that these edgeswere bent or set inwardly so as to overlap the edges of the arbor overwhich these edges are finally formed by which constructionit is foundnecessary to provide special means for permitting the withdrawal of thearbor after the metal has been folded thereover'; and the following is adetailed description of one method by which this result may beaccomplished:-

The buckle body is first blanked out of sheet stock into the propershape having a body portion with side edges 10 rounded lengthwisethereof. These side edges are then drawn up by suitable drawing tools(not shown) and the front plate 11 is at the same time swaged to produceits crowning or oval contour both longitudinally and transversely, asbest illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In producing a fine quality of goods,If

next stamp this body by a drop press opera tion or other means, toproduce a suitable finlsh on its face and side edges. I then trim theedges to the exact shape desired after while the other-is pivotallymounted to this" bar to swing thereon, by the {pivot pin 17.

An expandingmiddle 1nember18 ofthis arbor is fitted to be forced inbetween these side edge forming members, to expand the same and holdthem in that position during the next swaging operation.

With this collapsible arbor now in position in the body member I placethe same onto the bed 19 of the lower swaging die and then by forcingdownwardly the upper swaging die 20, the edge flanges 21 and guide lips22 on these side flanges; are turned inwardly and so folded over theupper face of the collapsilIJPlG die into the position best illustratedin At the same time I preferably incline the slde flanges 1O inwardlyover the side edges of the collapsible arbor, forming the body intosomewhat of a dovetailed shape in cross section.-

After this last swaging operation the buckle body is removed-from theswaging tools and the middle memberl8 of the collapsible arbor iswithdrawn, permitting the two side members thereof to swing inwardly ron their connecting member 15.thus permitting these members to also bewithdrawn from thebody of the buckle leaving it in a finished condition.I 5 I A buckle having side edges of thisrounding contour and alsohaving' inwardly-elk V tending side walls cannot be formed all of oneintegral piece without the useof an arbor which is adapted to besubsequently or their equivalents are essential in guidin or the belttherethrough. v l-Iaving thus described one illustrative em bodiment ofmy invention and" the best I mode known to me for carrying outjmymethod, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms areemployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense andnot forthe purpose of limitation, the

scope of the invention; being defined and" fingers around which thematerlal to be formed 1s lald transversely across the finlimited only bythe terms of the appended claims. v i

I claim 1. An improved method "of forming a one-piece buckle body havinglongitudinally curved side edges and rearum-rdly turned edge flanges,which consists incutting the blank from "sheet stock, drawing up thesideedges thereof, turning inwardly the side edges of the body over anarbor,and finally withdrawing the arbor.

2. An improved method of forming one-piece buckle body havinglongitudinally curved side edges and an inturned edge flange, whichconslsts 1n cutting the blank from sheet stock, drawing up the sideedges thereof, trimming the edges, placing 'an' arbor in the body to fitthe same, swaging arbor. g

inwardly the side edges of said body over 'said arbor, and finallywithdrawing the arbor; v i V '3. A collapsible arbor about, which abuckle body. may be formed comprising a pair of co extending elongatedforming fingers over which material to be shaped is laid transverselyacross the fingers, said fingers being connected; together at one oftheir opposite ends, one of said fingers being pivotally adjustable-.relative .to the other, and a filler to" be inserted betweensaidfingers to form a section of the shaping surface of the arbor andtolmaintain said .fingersin adjustable position against ool-'lapsingduring the shaping operation.

be formed is shaped, a transverse bar connecting said members at one oftheir ends, one oi; said members being ad ustableon the ,bar, and meansfor hold1ngsa1dmembers in adjusted position on the bar.

5. In a buckle-bodyforming device, an

arbor aboutwhichthe buckle-body may be I .formed including a pair .of;co:-extending fingers 1 around which .the materialto be formed is laidtransversely acrossthe fingers,-saidfingersbeing connected together andbeing adjustableg relative to each other,

an anvil on which said arbor is placed, a"v swagmg qdie movable relativeto the anvil and cooperating therewith, whereby the Vterial on the arboris shaped. I 1 i 6. In a bucklebo'dy forming device, an

' arbor about'which the buckle-body may be formed including a pairofco-eiitending gers, said fingers being connected and be ingadjustablerelative to each other, the

side edges of. said fingers being chamfered, a filler strip to belnserted between the fin' gers for formlnga section ofthe'shaplng ingthe fingers in adjusted, position during the shaping operation,- ananvil on which" said arbor isjlaid, and av die-head movable V FREDERICKw. Lewis;

surface of said fingers and for maintainrelative to the anvil'andcooperating there-

